Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno reminded Vice President Leni Robredo to be careful with judging the Oplan Tokhang launched by the government because it might affect the law enforcers.

In an interview with ANC Headstart, Moreno said that Robredo’s statement calling the Oplan Tokhang a failure is very “unfair” to the enforcers of the law.

“Unfair naman sa enforcement unit who are putting their life on the line. They are willing…We have to be very careful with this kind of statement because it might demoralize them,” Isko said in the interview.

Moreno said that the problem being faced by the government is already there since the 1970s that’s why it’s really hard to solve it.

He then said that President Duterte is also confronting the big fishes and not only the small-time pushers like what Robredo claimed.

“It is not being denied, the mass problem, kundi, kinonfront pa. Hindi ‘yan biro. Ang problema sa droga ay noon pang dekada setenta,” he said.

On Monday, Robredo called the Oplan Tokhang a failure and gave it a 1/100 grade.

She also gave some suggestions like scrapping Oplan Tokhang and giving more funds for rehabilitation.

Robredo became a co-chair of ICAD but dismissed by President Duterte after two weeks.

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa couldn’t understand how Vice President Leni Robredo judged the Oplan Tokhang launched by the Duterte administration, while in the past, she claimed that the government lacks data.

“Hindi ko siya maintindihan. Sabi nya walang datos or kulang ang data na available from the government,” said Dela Rosa in a statement.

“Ngayon mag present siya na 1% lang ang drugs at drug money ang naconfiscate. Saan galing yung data nya? Or baka ang pinipili lang niya na data ay yung makakasira sa gobyerno at ayaw niya ng data na gumaganda ang imahe ng gobyerno,” he added.

Dela Rosa pointed out that Robredo made another claim before that there are 20,000 victims of EJK in the country since President Rodrigo Duterte became the chief executive, while according to the government data, only 6,000 people lost their lives because of their operations.

The former PNP chief then explained to the Vice President why the pushers and users are being put in the same rehabilitation facilities.

“When she complained why users and pushers are lumped in the same rehabilitation centers shows her ignorance,” Dela Rosa said.

“Paanong hindi sila isama sa isang rehab center eh pareho silang adik? Hindi ba niya alam na ang pusher ay user din?” he added.

On Monday, Robredo finally released her ICAD findings, however, it was quickly criticized by the government and its supporters.

One of her suggestions is to scrap Oplan Tokhang which architected by Dela Rosa during his days as the head of PNP.

She also gave a 1/100 grade to the government on handling the problem.

A lawyer and television host criticized Vice President Robredo after releasing her ICAD findings on Monday.

On a Facebook post, Atty. Bruce Rivera addressed Robredo after the latter called the Oplan Tokhang of President Rodrigo Duterte a ‘failure’ and even gave it a 1 over 100 score.

According to Rivera, Robredo is not in the position to give a grade to the Oplan Tokhang launched by the government and she became an ICAD chair because the President wanted her to improve the said agency.

“Yung totoo Madame, talaga bang gumagana yang neurons mo sa utak o naging latak na yan kakasinghot ng dahon ng eucalyptus galing sa nasusunog na gubat sa Australia. Anlayo pa nung usok pero umabot na sa kaisa-isang brain cell na humahawak ng logic sa utak mo,” said Rivera.

“1/100 ba kamo? Ang trabaho mo ay pagandahin ang programa ng ICAD at hindi ka naman evaluating committee na magbibigay ng grado. Trabaho ng boss mo ang mag-evaluate. Sino nga ba nagbigay ng job mo? Ayyy, si PRD. At sino nagbigay ng trabaho kay PRD? Ayyy, di ang mga Pinoy. Antaas ng approval ng boss mo. Ang trabaho mo ay hahalili kay PRD kung matigok siya at gawin ang trabaho na ibibigay niya sa yo. Bagay na HINDI mo nagagawa kasi inuna mo maging lider ng oposisyon.” he added.

Rivera then also asked Robredo about her basis for giving the government a very low score and called her useless for not thinking about solving problems in the country.

“Oh wait….ikaw ang problema ng Pilipinas. At malamang kaya may 1 sa 100, ikaw ang nagbigay ng 1 sa sarili mo bilang ICAD Co-Chairperson,” he said.

“Kaya tayo kulelat sa edukasyon. Yung Bise ninyo, ang alam gawin…BYOG. Bring Your Own Grade!!!!!” he added.

On Monday, Robredo made a recommendation to the government, including scrapping Oplan Tokhang and separating pushers and users in rehabilitation facilities.

Robredo’s statement received mixed reactions on social media.

Economist and tv host Winnie Monsod questioned President Rodrigo Duterte’s fight against the alleged oligarchs of the country.

In her latest Inquirer column, Monsod was wondering if Duterte is really making action against oligarchs for the sake of the Filipino people or he’s only doing for personal reasons.

“President Duterte has been going against oligarchs—at least that is the spin for the benefit of the masa. But is he really doing that, or is there something else afoot, other objectives, like controlling the media and/or helping his cronies?” Monsod said in her article.

Monsod said that she remembered the actions of former President Ferdinand Marcos during the martial law years to what Duterte is doing against the Lopezes who owns television network ABS-CBN and other rich businessmen.

According to Monsod, while Marcos destroyed oligarchs during his time, the former President “created a new oligarchy” composed of his relatives and cronies.

“Get the picture? I can’t help thinking, given what Mr. Duterte is saying, that he wants the Lopezes to sell to someone like, say, Davao businessman Dennis Uy—who has been buying companies like there was no tomorrow. Granted Mr. Duterte’s actions are not as direct (there is still no martial law, after all ) as Marcos’, but the end results are likely to be the same. In other words, he wants to do a Marcos (sans martial law, at least as of now). Are we, as a people, ready and willing to have that happen?”

The economist then pointed out that the Lopezes are not even in the top 10 of the richest businessmen in the Philippines.

“There are the Sys, Lucio Tan, the Ayalas, the Razons, the Gokongweis, etc. So it is not the oligarchs he is really after. Therefore, it must be the media he wants to control. What do you think, Reader?” she said.

Monsod wrote the said article, a few weeks after President Duterte criticized and cursed her after she published a column praising him for his fight against poverty.

A veteran journalist made an open letter addressed to Palawan, First District Representative Franz Alvarez who’s going to handle the discussion over the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN.

In the letter, Jay Sonza mentioned the alleged violations made by ABS-CBN in the past years so it could help Alvarez to address those issues when they already started discussing whether or not the television network deserved a franchise renewal.

Sonza also urged Alvarez to invite all parties concerned in his committee if he really wanted to give a fair chance to the television network.

Here’s what Sonza said in his open letter:

“Rep. Franz Alvarez
Chairman, Franchise Committee
House of Representatives

Dear Mr. Alvarez,

You said your committee would like to give abs-cbn and all parties concern, a fair chance in the committee deliberation on the franchise renewal issue.

I would like to help you by advancing these issues against the company, to wit:

1. violation of the social amelioration laws on social security, housing and universal health care.
– non payment of the mandatory SSS contrubution for all the employees regardless of status from day one of employment. A criminal offense.
– non payment of the mandatory philhealth contributions for all the employees of the network.
– non remittance of the mandatory pagibig fund contributions for all the employees.
– non payment of the mandatory contributions in the employees compensation for all the employees.
2. Violation of Labor Laws and practices and union bustings
– There are more that 20 different labor cases/complaints against the company for various violation of existing labor laws.
3. Violation of the law on women and children.
4. Violation of the Revenue Code of the Philippines. Tax evasion and tax avoidance cases against the network.
5. Violation of the national security and patrimony of the nation
6. Violation of the foundation and charitable institution laws and regulations.
7. Violation of Trade and Commerce laws, rules and regulation.
8. Violation of the Omnibus Election Law, rules and regulations.
9. Violation of the national telecommunication law, rules and regulations.
10. Violation of the Congressional Franchise granted to the company.

If you are true to your word, invite all parties concerned into your committee hearings so that your members can be properly informed, educated and enlightened.

Failure on your part to hear the testimonies and peruse the documents against the network could only mean that you and your committee members were bought with monies and other considerations by the lobbyist.

Thank you and more power,”

The franchise of ABS-CBN is set to expire in March 2020 and President Rodrigo Duterte is still stating that he wanted the television network to close for good.

Despite the criticisms threw by the President against ABS-CBN, Rep. Alvarez said that they’re still going to discuss the franchise renewal of the television network giant.

“The advice of Speaker Alan (Peter Cayetano) to us was to make sure that we would be always fair and impartial in reviewing the application of ABS-CBN, or the application of any other public utility, for that matter. At the same time it is Congress’ duty to accept complaints and hear issues brought up in any contain or objection,” Alvarez said in a statement on Saturday.

“But we should all be reminded that under the law, the grant of a franchise is not a right, but a privilege. This is why we have to hear all sides and find out if ABS-CBN violated the provisions of its franchise,” he added.

Vice President and dismissed ICAD co-chair Leni Robredo finally revealed her findings on the Duterte administration’s fight against drugs.

On Monday, Robredo said that the authorities only focused on the “street-level enforcement” that’s why it doesn’t affect the supply of drugs in the country.

According to her, the government didn’t focus on the big suppliers that’s why they’re having a hard time on solving the problem.

“Failure talaga siya dahil ‘yung kampanya laban sa ilegal na droga, maraming aspeto ito. Maraming aspeto at nakikita natin, gaya ng sinabi ko sa report, na masyado nang natutukan ‘yung street-level enforcement, ‘yung pagtugis sa maliit na mga pushers at users,” the Vice President said.

“At kahit gawin ito araw-araw, kung hindi naman inaasikaso ‘yung supply constriction na nanggagaling, ‘yun ‘yung pagtugis ng mga malalaking suppliers, talagang hindi matatapos ang problema,” she added.

She also revealed that the drugs being consumed per year is P1.3-T, but the Anti-Money Laundering Council was only able to seize P1.4-B from the operations of the authorities.

“Isang porsiyento. Isipin na lang natin, kung exam ito, ang magiging score ng ating pamahalaan ay 1 over 100,” she said.

The Vice President said that the current strategy of the government is one-sided and only prioritizing the safety of law enforcement.

“Mula sa datos na ito, makikita natin na kinakailangan ang pagpalit ng stratehiya. Kasama na rito ang pagtigil sa Tokhang at paglabas ng bagong kasulatang mayroong mas malinaw na layunin at operational guidelines para maiwasan ang mga naging abuso ng iilan sa kampanyang ito,” Robredo said.

Robredo then urged the government to scrap Oplan Tokhang and target the big suppliers and not the small ones.

“Kung gusto talaga nating tapusin ang salot ng iligal na droga, ang malalaking supplier, at hindi lang ang maliliit na pusher, ang kailangan nating habulin,” she said in her speech.

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa believes that the Duterte administration is running out of time in fighting lawbreakers and drugs.

In an interview with dwIZ, Dela Rosa said that there are only two years left before President Rodrigo Duterte steps down, and he wanted someone to continue what the current administration started.

He suggested that another member of the Duterte family should be the next President, so the work of the current chief executive continues.

“Running out of time kaya siguro kailangan pa natin ng isa pang Duterte para magtuloy-tuloy ang trabaho,” said Dela Rosa.

According to him, there are some politicians qualified to be the President. However, they’re not at the same level of toughness as Duterte.

Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte is one of the possible candidates in the 2022 presidential election, however, the lady politician is still not talking about her future political plans.

Dela Rosa also believes that pushing for the revival of capital punishment could help the government in eliminating lawbreakers.

This 2020, he said that he would ask the committee to talk about the possible revival of capital punishment.

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa spent the first week of 2020 to roam around Mindanao, including Mount Apo in Davao region.

On a Facebook post, he shared that he climbed the tallest mountain in the Philippines to gather flowers for his wife, Nancy.

“I climbed mt apo just to buy this bouquet of flowers for my wife Nancy,” Dela Rosa said.

The photo went viral, reaching 7,400 shares on social media.

It also showed that Dela Rosa brought his big bike in his travel along the Davao region.

His motorbike captured the attention of the netizens because of its expensive price, however, his supporters said that the Senator could afford it using his retirement funds from leaving the Philippine National Police.

A few days ago, Dela Rosa also used his bike to travel and visited some memorable places in his life.

“Sitio polipog, bgy sta cruz, panabo city my playground during my 2Lt days,” he said.

Vice President Leni Robredo reacted to the demise of an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) based in Kuwait.

In her radio program, Robredo said that the government should not allow the case of OFW Jeanlelyn Villavende to happen again next time.

“Dapat siguruhin na hindi na siya mangyayari sa susunod,” she said in her radio program “Biserbisyong Leni”.

Villavende’s demise was being blamed to her Kuwaiti employer and the Philippine Government vowed to hire the best lawyers in Kuwait to give justice to the OFW.

Robredo said that the government should review the memorandum of agreement between the Philippines and Kuwait which signed after the case of Joanna Demafelis, the OFW who found lifeless inside her employer’s freezer.

“Nagkaroon na rin ng ganito, na-suspend siya 2018, Kailangan talagang pag-aralan ito dahil kahit na na-suspend siya, nagkaroon ng memorandum of agreement, nangyari na naman,” she said.

As a response to what happened to Villavende, the government banned the deployment of OFWs in Kuwait for the second time.

“This should serve as a clear message to Kuwaiti authorities. The partial ban may ripen into total deployment ban if justice for Jeanelyn Villavende is not met,” Bello warned Kuwait.

The ban exempted skilled workers and Filipinos who are already working in Kuwait.

There are about 262,000 Filipinos living in Kuwait.

The Philippine government is also planning to make a template contract for its workers in Kuwait.

It would protect the Filipino workers from their employers who are going to attempt to confiscate their passports and mobile phones.

The template contract also included the transferring of the workplace without the labor attache’s consent.